A 39-year-old Pickens man is facing a felony charge after investigators say a cyber tip led them to files of child sexual abuse material in his possession. Authorities identified the suspect as Aaron Clark Chapman and charged him with third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. Prosecutors say the arrest followed a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the case will be handled by the South Carolina Attorney General's Office.
State investigators say cyber tip led to arrest
According to a press release from the South Carolina Attorney General's Office, investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that pointed them to Chapman. The office said Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Pickens County Sheriff's Office carried out the arrest, while Attorney General investigators assisted with the probe. Investigators allege Chapman possessed files of child sexual abuse material.
Local coverage and arrest details
As reported by WYFF, Chapman was arrested on July 22 and has been charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree. The station noted that the offense is a felony and that the case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office.
What the law says
South Carolina law defines third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor at Justia, which outlines the statute criminalizing possession of sexual material depicting minors. The statute states that a conviction under this section is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
What comes next
In its release, the Attorney General's Office said the case will be prosecuted at the state level and emphasized that "all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law." Chapman is expected to make an initial appearance in Pickens County court. Officials did not release details on bail or any additional charges.
